RAF Valley on Anglesey is now closed to all aircraft for August as a £20 million project to refurbish the airfield continues.
A detachment of Royal Air Force Hawk T2 fast jet training aircraft usually based there will be deployed to MoD St Athan for the month of August, while essential runway re-furbishment work is carried out.
The aircraft – from IV(R) Squadron based at RAF Valley – will be conducting routine training missions as part of its role in training future Fighter Pilots for the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.
MoD St Athan was reportedly chosen both for its facilities and its location, which allow IV(R) Squadron to train in much the same areas of the UK that it would from RAF Valley.
Wing Commander Paul Mounsey, Officer Commanding IV(R) Squadron said:
“Our deployment to MOD St Athan will allow us to continue our essential role – training future Fighter Pilots for the RAF and RN. It will also allow us to practice our air and ground crews in the skills required for operating away from their home base, which offers good training for deployed operations. We are very grateful for the assistance given to us by the personnel at St Athan, and we look forward to what I hope will be a very successful month in South Wales.”
The Ministry of Defence say the project will extend the life of the airfield by 25 years.
Bugger, im off to Corris in 2 weeks, does this mean no Mach loop fly pasts?
Valley has no bearing on the Mach loop, unless you are in a Hawk!
UK Defence Journal is St Athan the air field just down the road from valley
No. St Athan is in S Wales near Cardiff. Mona is the Relief Landing airfield near Valley
thank you
No doubt the press will try and make a story up about this due to cuts or something or other
Hopefully more over south Wales